When people around the world were mulling that it had seen everything on Earth during the peak of COVID, they never would have thought that they would witness Zombies in real life. Yes! you heard right. A West African country named Sierra Leone has declared a National Emergy after cases related to youths digging up graves to get high on a drug from human skeletons have surfaced. Sierra Leone's President Julius Maada Bio reportedly called it an "existential threat", with the BBC quoting a doctor as saying that hundreds of young men had died from organ failure caused by the drug in recent months. The West African country is fighting a unique problem in which the effects of drugs turning the Sierra Leone youths into "zombies". Now, the question arises what is Zombie Drug and what is its origin? Below is everything you need to know-
What is Zombie Drug?
The Zombie Drug also known as Kush is an extremely addictive concoction of substances that has resulted in hundreds of fatalities and dozens of addicts with mental health issues in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone's President while declaring the emergency had said that "Our country is currently faced with an existential threat due to the ravaging impact of drugs and substance abuse, particularly the devastating synthetic drug kush." Sierra Leone's President informed that a National Task Force has been set up whose main objective will be to address the Kush epidemic.
The zombie drug aka kush is a mixture of formaldehyde, fentanyl, tramadol, cannabis, and, some claim, crushed human bones. Notably, the Western African country's 60 percent youths are unemployed. Hence, it is a possible factor why the use of Zombie drugs is increasing in the nation.
A prominent UK media portal quoted some addicts who confirmed that Kush addicts dig up graves to extract human bones and crush them to mix them up. Talking about the smuggling of dangerous drugs, Sierra Leone has open land borders with countries like Guinea and Liberia.
Zombie Drug Price
As per reports, a single Kush joint may be purchased for around five leones (Rs 2087) and can be utilised by two or three individuals. In a single day, up to 40 joints can be smoked.
Impact of Zombie Drug aka Kush on Humans
Just like other drugs, its impact and effect vary from person to person. There are many different effects of cannabis, such as relaxation, exhilaration, and altered consciousness. However, fentanyl has multiple negative effects, including sleeplessness. Similar effects are seen by users of tramadol, an opioid that is less strong than fentanyl (100 mg of tramadol having the same impact as 10 mg of morphine), who get drowsy and spaced out, or detached from their surroundings.
BBC quoted addicts who informed that the main cemeteries in Freetown have requested police security due to the increase in kush usage since young men have been known to dig up graves. It is yet to be ascertained why the addicts are digging up graves and what pleasure it gives to them.